Oregon basketball: Pressure mounts on Ducks as UCLA comes to town

Associated PressMike Bellotti, recovering from knee surgery, is playing close attention to the state of the men's basketball program.EUGENE – As if five consecutive losses aren’t pressure enough, there’s the countdown to the opening of Matthew Knight Arena, at 336 days and ticking …

“That’s a factor,’’ Oregon athletic director Mike Bellotti said. “But I think that’s always secondary to the coach-player relationship, player development and, you know, the success of the program. Success can be measured in a variety of different ways.’’

The most readily apparent, of course, is the Pacific-10 Conference standings, in which the Ducks (10-9, 2-5 Pac-10) share last place. The losses are putting mounting pressure on the program, which creates more losses – including the loss of momentum going into the new arena.

Tajuan Porter, who is under more pressure than any other player, says it’s translating into “robotic’’ play.

“(We’re) thinking a lot, being robotic,’’ Porter said. “(The coaches) might tell you one thing, but you’re out there playing, you’ve got to make adjustments. We’ve just got to stop being robotic.’’

Malcolm Armstead agreed.

“(The coaches) may give us a set, but at any time, if you can make a basketball play, you’ve got to make that play,’’ Armstead said. “But instead, we’re just going through the motion and not showing what we really can do.’’

There are 15 players on Oregon’s roster, 12 are freshmen or sophomores.

Porter is the lone senior playing (Joevan Catron is out indefinitely with a bad back). He not only has to bounce between the point and shooting guard, depending on who else is struggling more at the moment, but he also has his immediate future to worry about – how will he be making a living months from now?

He shows no outward signs of pressure, but it is revealing itself in his play.

“I’ve just been kind of passive on offense,’’ Porter said. “I don’t know why, it’s something that just happens.’’

What appears to be uneven effort can be pressure, too.

“The effort part of it, that’s on us,’’ said coach Ernie Kent. “But sometimes you get stuck in a rut like that, you have a little less effort.

“But we’ll get after ‘em a little bit.’’

Kent said he is making some adjustments that he isn’t willing to share with the media – not juggling more lineups, but some changes in the way the team goes about its business.

His new boss and his old boss will be checking out the progress. Bellotti, 3 ½ weeks removed from double knee replacement surgery, said he will be attending games now. And former athletic director Pat Kilkenny is flying in, along with new friend Bill Walton, for Thursday night’s game with UCLA.

Kilkenny said he gets a daily earful from the “vocal minority’’ who want a coaching change immediately. He tunes that out, but he can’t turn away from the sagging attendance numbers, knowing that momentum is key. He probably will not see a sellout at McArthur Court. Once again, the school is selling general admission (student) tickets to the general public, a previously unheard-of event, especially for UCLA.

“I don’t know how that syncs up right now,’’ Kilkenny said of the desired convergence of fan interest and arena opening. “What worries me more is the 14 percent unemployment in Lane County. There’s a honeymoon period that can give you a cushion, but a lot of that goes with the economy, maybe all of it.’’

But it’s now Bellotti’s job to make sure the books are balanced.

“I’m aware of our need, obviously, to sell arena tickets and to make sure that facility is not just built to stand but built to be used,’’ Bellotti said. “My first and foremost goal is to see improvement and to see the cohesiveness of the staff and the ability to effect positive change with the student-athletes.’’

Oregon’s men’s basketball team has a 975 NCAA academic progress rate. By that measure, the Ducks are wildly successful. And it is Kent’s previous success, including two Elite Eight appearances, that paved the way for the arena to be built.

Still, a 4-21 record in the Pac-10 in 2008-10 has soured many fans, as has the lack of competitiveness. During the five-game losing streak, the Ducks have had two leads – both 2-0 – and have lost by a total of 87 points. The energy level will be interesting to see when the Ducks and Bruins tip it off.

“I think people are very mercurial as fans and everything else, but these are young athletes,’’ Bellotti said. “I’m looking forward to basically a positive upturn in what we do and how we compete.’’